Photographic-printing machine



Oct. 13, 1925- .5 330 F. J. LYANS PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINE Fil y1924 .5 Sheets-Sheet 1 66 'E' g l g 6 74 54: 2:: i 690 0 9 i8 21 29 I iX m Quorum? Oct. 13, 1925- 1,557,301

F. J. LYANS PHOTOGRAPHI C PHI NTING MACHINE Fi e y 22, 1924 3Sheets-Sheet 2 5e Six, 4': i 72 n 70 I 57 'r i re 1 69 54 0 H I 00 e 168 26 .1 1 Le 1 I I I 81 I, Q I

E "Lg E5 ||m-........ u|w' Fred T L n ans Oct. 13 F. J. LYANSPHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINE File y 22, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet. 5

Ill

' H1 Ki Patented Oct. 13, 1925.

UNITED STATES rm J. LYANS, OI MADISON, WISCONSIN.

PHOTOGBAPHIC-PBINTING HACETNE.

Application filed lay 28, 1024. Serial No. 715,208.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED J. LYANS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Madison, in the county of Dane and State of \Visconsin, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in a Photographic- PrintingMachine, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to photographic printing machines, andmore particularly to that type adapted to produce pictures at a rapidrate for commercial reproduction.

An object of the present invention is to provide a machine of thischaracter which embodies the features of simplicity and strength indesign and in the arrangement of its various parts for disposingcompactly the several instrumentalities necessary to the completeoperations of feeding, registering, exposing and delivering thesensitized elements upon which the photographs are to be reproduced.

Another object of this invention is to provide a machine with acontinuously actuated feeding mechanism, and acombined device forcontrolling the exposition of the sensitized element and the arrestingof the feeding device in its motion momentarily during exposure, suchmechanisms being automatically controlled in proper timed relation tothe operation of the feeding device.

A further object of the invention is to provide a photograph or the likereproduction machine for making copies in large quantities and at aminimum initial outlay, and with apparatus which may be maintained andoperated at low cost so as to reduce to a commercial basis suchreproductions 011 postcards or other objects or sheets which may becoated with a sensitized elewent and which may be conveniently handledby the feeding mechanism.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a machine of thischaracter with a novel registering means which is automatic in actionfor liberating an exposed e ementso that it may be delivered from themachine, and which is automatically returned to operative position forarresting the advancement of a new element to register the same with thenegative or the like from whi'h the photograph is to be projected.

The invention still further aims at the provision of a machine of thischaracter embodying all of the above characteristics, and which is soconstructed and arranged as to permit easy access to all parts thereof,which permits easy removal and replacement of the negative or the liketo be reproduced, and which permits of the easy cleansing and adjustingof the parts to maintain the machme in proper order without materialdelay in its operation.

A further object is to provide a casing or cabinet construction which isnovel and provides for an improved air circulation to carry off the heatfrom the inner compartment and to prevent passage of light rays eitherfrom or into the inner com artment.

The above and various other objects and advantages of this inventionwill in part be described in and in part be understood from thefollowing detailed description of the present preferred embodiment, thesame be mg illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a photographic printing machineconstructed according to this invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the upper portion of themachine looking down upon the same, and showing the platen and itssupport swung back.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section taken through the machine.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary end elevation of the rear or outlet end of themachine, parts being broken away showing the position of the platen andthe location of the registering device.

Fig. 6 is a detail enlarged section taken longitudinally through theelectric switch controlling the lamp circuit.

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section taken horizontally through the samesubstantially on the line 77 of Fig. 6 and looking in the direction ofthe arrows, and

Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of the controlling mechanism foractuating the feeding device and the light circuit switch.

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates a casing or cabinet which maybe of any suitable construction and shape, but which is preferably ofrectangular form as shown and provided with a bottom or baseboard 11upon the central portion of which are mounted a number of lamps 12adapted to illumine the interior of the cabinet and project the raysupwardly when energized. The

lamps 12 are inclosed in an inner compartment within the casing 10 whichis formed by transverse partitions 13 arran d between the sides of thecasing 10, an which extend upwardly to a point near the top 14 of thecasin to provide air passages 15 through whic ii air is adapted tocirculate in its passa e through the cabinet 10 and through t e upperportion of the inner compartment to ca off heated air therefrom. The endwalls 0 the cabinet 10 have, near their lower ends, openings 16 throu hwhich air is adapted to pass in entering an leaving the cabinet. The airenters one opening 16 and passes upwardly against the outer sides of theadjacent partition 13, over the top of the same, through the passage 15,across and sweeping downwardly through the inner compartment and overthe opposite partition 13 into the casing 10 and out through theopposite opening 16. The arrangement of the partitions and openings issuch that no danger results from over heating the interior of thecabinet, and the light rays are not permitted toeither enter or leavethe cabinet so that the exposure of the sensitized surface to the innercompartment is not jeopardized. Screens 17 or the like may be fittedover the openings 16 to prevent entrance of dirt and the like to theinterior of the cabinet 10.

Mounted lengthwise on the top 14 of the cabinet is a trough 18 which isof substantially of the width of the casing 10 and has its upturnedflanges extending substantially the entire length of the casing. One endof the trough is extended beyond the casing and bent downwardly at aslight angle to provide a feeding table 19 which may be supported upon abracket 20 projected from the adjacent end of the casing 10 beneath thetable 19. The other end of the trough 18 rojects beyond the casing 10and is prefera ly bent'downwardly at a greater angle to provide anoutlet chute 21 for directing the finished article into a, suitablecontainer or the like, which may be positioned below the end of thechute 21. The intermediate portion of the trough 18 is cut away toprovide an exposure opening, and the top 14 of the casing is likewlsecut away so as to provide an opening which extends downwardly into theinner compartment of the cabinet 10. A frame 22 is slidably mounted inthe top 14 of the cabinet, and is arranged to move through one lateraledge thereof to move the frame into and out of registery with thecentral opening. This frame 22 carries a transparent panel 23 whichconstitutes the retaining or covering panel to support a negative 24which may also be in the form of a photographic plate, a sheet of glass,a film or the like which carries the photograph or configuration adaptedto be projected upon the sensitized surface of the 'on the stub shaft.

article to be printed. The exposed side of the frame 22 may be providedwith a knob 22 or the like to facilitate thesliding of the frame intoand out of position.

- At each corner of the cabinet 10, and at the top thereof, is anoutstanding bracket 25. The brackets 25 are arranged in transverse pairsand support transverse shafts 26 upon which are mounted rollers 27 whichalso extend entirely across the trough 18. Arranged upon the oppositeend portions of the rollers 27 is a pair of endless feeding belts 28,the lower runs of which lie in proximity to the upper surface of thebottom of the trough 18 so as to carry over said bottom of the troughsheets of paper, postcards, or other articles adapted to be imprinted. The frictional contact of the belts 28 is sufiicient to slide or advancethe articles from the feeding table 19 through the trough 18. Thefeeding belts 28 may be 0 rated in any suitabe manner, but refera bly bymeans of a pulley 29 mounte on the outer end of one shaft 26 and overwhich is trained a belt 30 which extends downwardly to a pulle 31mounted on one end of a longitudlnal s aft 32 mounted across one side ofthe cabinet 10. The shaft 32 is the drive shaft and' is rovided with alarge pulley 33 which receives a belt 34 which may be driven by anelectric motor 35, as shown in Fi 8 or an other suitable driving means.0 drive s aft 32 has on its other end opposite the pulley 31 a worm 35which meshes with a worm wheel 36 on a transverse shaft 37 securedacross the adjacent or rear end of the machine, and which carries apinion 38 on its opposite end which meshes wlth a gear wheel 39 on astub shaft 40.

A detachable timing gear 41 is mounted on the outer end of the stubshaft and may have one or more socket openings 42 to receive lockingpins 43 which are carried upon the outer side of the gear wheel 39 forholding the timin gear 41 from turning e timing ear 41 is provided witha plurality of suita le spaced apart projections 44 adapted toconsecutively and intermittently strike the lower end of an arm 45 whichis pivoted at 46 to the side of the cabinet 10, and which has an n perreduced end bent laterally to provi e a striking finger 47 which movesin the path of an arm 48 secured to a cross shaft 50. The shaft 50 issupported in a pair of brackets 51 which rise from the intermediateportion of an arched frame 52 which is disposed over the trough 18. Thearched frame 52 is hinged by hinges 53 at one end to a bracket 54 whichis secured to the adjacent side of the cabinet 10 and which projectsupwardly to a point above the trough 18.

The arched frame 52 at its free end is arranged to seat upon the upperedge of an opposite bracket 54 secured to the other side of the cabinet10. The said opposite bracket 54 is provided on its outer side with oneor more studs 55 which enter slots 56 formed in the free downturned endof the arched frame 52. A handle 57 is carried by the free end portionof the frame 52 to facilitate the swinging of the frame upwardly uponits hinges 53, and thus swinging the superstructure to one side out ofthe way. This arched frame 52 carries an upstanding sleeve 58 whichopens down through the frame 52 and which houses a shank 59 whichextends up wardly from a platen 60 adapted to operate in the trough 18.The laten 60 may be of any suitable construction, but preferablycomprises a rigid back against which is secured a relatively softsubstance forming a bed plate or backing for clamping a sensitizedelement against the negative 24. The opposite sides or lateral portionsof the platen 60 are adapted to enter between the top and bottom runs ofthe conveyor belts 28, and to press downwardly upon the lower runs ofthe belts immediately over the negative frame 22 for arresting themovement of the belts and for compressing the superposed sheets orplates together. The platen 60 is normally held in a downward positionby a spring 61 which is housed within a cavity in the stem 59, and whichat its upper end is secured to a cross bar 62 in the top of the stem 59and which extends downwardly in its pocket to a cross pin 63 whichprojects at opposite ends through slots 64 formed in the opposite sidesof the stem 59.

The pin 63 at opposite ends encases the under side of the frame 52 so asto exert a tension on the spring 61 and urge the stem 59 downwardly.

The stem 59 at one side has rack teeth 65 which meshes with a. sector 66fixed upon the shaft 50 mounted in the brackets 51 which rise from theframe 52. The arm 48 when rocked by the finger 47 lifts the stem 59 andits platen 60 so as to release the lower run of the belts 28 and permitthe same to proceed in movement under tension of the belt 30.

For the purpose of insuring the proper registry of the articles over theframe 22, the platen 60 carries a registering mechanism which comprisesa pair of stop pins 67 which are slidably mounted in eyes 68 formed atthe rear end of the platen 60, the pins 67 being connected at theirupper ends by a crossbar 69. The crossbar 69 carries upstanding pins 70arranged to engage the underside of the frame 52 when the bar 69 israised to a predetermined height. The crossbar 69 is provided with apair of converging spring fingers 71 arranged to impress a finger 72which is carried upon the platen 60 and which extends upwardly therefromand is then bent rearwardly to engage between the spring fingers 71. Thefingers 71 are adapted to connect the cross bar 69 with its pins 67 tothe platen for movement therewith. The upper ends of the pins 70 areadapted to strike the underside of the frame 52 when the platen israised to a predetermined extent so as to then free the bar 69 andpermit the pins 67 to drop into the path of the next approaching articlewith a sensitized element thereon. The crossbar 69 is normally urgeddown by a spring 73 having one end attached to the bar 69 and its otherend to the platen 60. The spring 73 1S weaker than the spring fingers 71so that the latter is permitted to hold the bar 69 with its stop pins 67in elevated position until the spring fingers 71 are forced away fromthe fingers 72 by the engagement of the pins 70 against the underside ofthe arched frame 52. As soon as the spring fingers 71 are forced fromthe finger or pin 72 the spring 73 snaps the bar 69 downwardly to bringthe stop pin 67 against the bottom of the trough 18, and in the path ofthe oncoming article, so that the article will be stopped immediatelyover the negative frame 22.

The platen 60 is provided at one side with an outstanding arm 74 adaptedto engage the upper contact 75 of a switch to depress said upper contactagainst a lower contact 76 for completing an electric circuit throughthe lamps 12. The lamps 12 are connected in parallel with a pair ofleads 77, one of which terminates in the lower contact 76 while theother lead goes to a suitable source of electric energy. The other leadcomes from said source of electric energy to the upper contact 75. Apilot light 78 is secured across the leads 77 outside of the switch 75so as to act as a telltale in the condition of the circuit. This pilotlight 78 may be mounted in the inner compartment with the lamps 12. 1

The casing 10 is provided at one side with a hinged door 79 for gainingaccess to the interior of the cabinet 10 and into the inner compartmentso that the lamps 12 and 78 may be adjusted, renewed or the like. Theupper ends of the partitions 13 are provided with registering grooves 80in their inner surfaces adapted to receive vignetting or dodging plateswhich are adapted to be slid into and out of the door 79.

For the purpose of maintaining an even pressure on the lower run of eachof the belts 28. the sides of the trough 18 are provided with springfingers 81 which are given suitable configuration to overhang the lowerruns of the belts 28 at opposite ends of the platen 60. The feedingtable 19 is provided at one side with a spring leaf 83 adapted to liesubstantially flat against the bottom of the feeding table and beneathwhich the articles are adapted to be tensioned for entry beneathadjacent roller 27.

llO

' rocks the shaft 50 in such In operation it is only necessary to swingthe platen 60 over to one side on the hinges 53 so as to gain access tothe bottom of, the trough. The frame 22- may now be withdrawn laterallythrough the cabinet 10 and a negative 24 placed in the frame 22 againstthe transparent panel 23. The parts are now replaced and the normalposition of the laten 60 under tension of spring 58 is owermost and withthe swinging arm 69 advanced rearwardly. The motor 35 is now set inmotion so as to turn the drive shaft 32. The drive shaft 32 operates thebelt 30, which in turn drives the adjacent shaft 26 and operates thefeeding belts 28 which lie in the opposites of the trough 18. When theplaten 60 is lowered it exerts pressure upon the lower runs of the belts28 and holds-the belts from movement, causing the belt 30 to slip overits pulley 29. At the same time the shaft 32 continues to operate androtates the transverse shaft 37, which in turn actuates the timing gear41 to intermittently bring the projections 44 into engagement with thelower end of the rocking arm 45. When the projection 44 engages the arm45 it swings the upper end of the arm forwardly against the dependingarm 48 and irection as to cause the segment 66 to lift the rack 61 andstem 59, elevating the platen 60 and freeing the belts 28. As the platen60 rises it carries the pin 72 therewith and the pin 72 carries with itthe springs 71, which are mounted on the crossbar 69. The studs of thecrossbar approach the underside of the arched frame 52 and en age thelatter when the laten 60 is elevate to a predetermined hei t. When suchposition 1s reached the studs 70 arrest the upward motion of thecrossbar 69 and force the springs 71 out of engagement with the head ofthe pin 72. \Vhen such occurs the bar 69 is free to drop and to carryits studs 70 downwardly therewith, and also to project the stop pins 67against the bottom of the trough 18 and in the path of an article to beexposed.

The articles, such as postcards, sheets or the like, are placed upon thefeeding table 19 and forced one at a time into engagement with theadjacent roller 27, the lower runs of the belts 28 engaging the articlesand carrying it forward over the bottom of the trough 18. Of course, thearticles may be fed one after the other from the table 19. When thearticle is carried to the central portion of the trough 18 it strikesthe stop pins 67, and is thus held in registry with the frame 22. Afterthe operation has continued through a predetermined cycle, the platen 60is again moved downwardly to engage the lower runs of the belts and toalso bind the subjacent article against the negative 24. This downwardmovement of the platen 60 also closes the light circuit through thecontacts 75 and 76 to cause the lamps 12 to be illuminated. The ra sfrom the lamps are projected upwardly t rough the transparent panel 23of the frame, and through the ne ative 24, the light passing throu inthese 0 jects actin upon the sensitized fil m of the article tophotograph the configuration of the negative upon the article. Thisdownward movement of the platen 60 also yieldingly interlocks theregistering or stop ins 67 with the platen so as to be elevated y thelatter when it is raised.

It will be noted from Fig. 4 that the cabinet 10 may be provided alongone side with a trough 82 adapted to receive a number of the timinggears 41 so that the timing gears may be made in different sizes andwith different numbers of projections 44 thereon, depending upon the useto which the photographing machine is to be put.

It is of course understood that various chan es and modifications may bemade in the etails of construction and design of the above specificallydescribed embodiment of the invention without departing from the spiritthereof, such changes and modifications being restricted only by thescope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a photograph printing machine, the combination of a cabinet, asource of illumination in the cabinet, a negative holder in the cabinet,a feeding device adapted to bring sensitized articles into registry withthe negative holder, a reciprocating platen mounted over the feedingdevice and adapted to engage the feeding device for arresting the motionthereof when the article registers with said negative holder, and lightcontrolling means mounted on said platen for controlling theillumination within the cabinet.

2. In a photograph printing machine, the combination of a cabinet, asource of illumination in the cabinet, a negative holder in the top ofthe cabinet, a feeding device normally operating over the top of thecabinet for carrying sensitized articles, one at a time, into positionover the negative holder. a reciprocating platen mounted over thefeeding device and in line with the negative holder, means forperiodically lowering the platen to engage the feeding device and arrestthe motion thereof to hold an article in line with the negative holder,and a circuit closing switch lying in the path of the platen adapted tobe closed when the platen is lowered for energizing the source ofillumination.

3. In a photograph printing machine, the combination of a cabinet, asource of illumination in the cabinet, a negative holder in the top ofthe cabinet in line with the source of illumination, a platen mounted onthe top of the cabinet in overhanging relation to the negative holder, aspring normally urging the platen toward the negative holder, operatingmechanism including an intermittent trip device adapted to elevate saidplaten against the tension of the spring, and an endless feedingmechanism operable across the top of the cabinet adapted to carryarticles one at a time into registry beneath said platen, said platenwhen lowered being adapted to engage said feeding device and arrest themotion thereof and clamp the article against saidnegative holder duringthe exposure of the article to the rays of light.

l. In a photograph printing machine, the combination of a cabinet, :1source of illumination in the cabinet, a negative holder in the top ofthe cabinet in line with the source of illumination, a verticallyreciprocable platen disposed over the negative holder, :1 pair ofendless belts mounted over the top of the cabinet adapted to deliverarticles to said negative holder, said platen being adapted to be moveddownwardly into engagement with said endless belts to arrest the motionthereof and to hold the article against the negative in the holderduring exposure of the article to the source of illamination.

5. In a photograph printing machine, the combination of a cabinet, anoperating shaft arranged along one side of the cabinet, a pair ofrollers disposed at opposite ends of the cabinet at the top thereof, apair of endless belts arranged over the opposite end portions of therollers and traversing the top of the cabinet, a negative holder seatedin the top of the cabinet beneath the belts, a source of illumination inthe cabinet, said belts being adapted to receive articles thereheneathand convey said articles to said negative holder, a vertically movableplaten mounted on the cabinet above said belts and having lateralportions engaging between the upper and lower runs of the belts, saidplaten being adapted to be lowered for binding engagement against thelower runs of the belts to arrest the feeding movement of the same andto press the article against the negative in said holder, andintermittent tripping means connected to said shaft for actuating theplaten.

6. In a photograph printing machine, the combination-of a cabinet, asource of illumination in the cabinet, a negative holder in the top ofthe cabinet, a vertically movable platen mounted on the cabinet oversaid negative holder, a pair of endless belts arranged to traverse thetop of the cabinet and adapted to convey articles one at a time acrossthe top of the cabinet, a pair of stop pins vertically movable in therear end of said platen adapted to engage the top of the cabinet whenthe platen is lowered, a crossbar connecting the upper ends of said stoppins, a pair of'spring fingers carried by the crossbar, a connecting pincarried by the platen and having its upper end disposed in linewith saidspring fingers and adapted to be grasped thereby for supporting the barwith its stop pins on the fingers to elevate the stop pins during theinitial upward movement of the platen, and studs projecting upwardlyfrom said crossbar for engagement with the superstructure of the cabinetto force said spring fingers out of engagement with the connecting pinof the platen for freeing the stop fingers, said stop fingers beingadapted to drop downwardly in advance of the downward movement of theplaten to engage the advanced edge of an article to hold the same inregistry with the negative holder, said spring fingers being adapted tocarry the stop pins downwardly with the platen to free the article andpermit said endless belts to carry the exposed article across .the topof the cabinet.

7. In a photograph printing machine, the combination of a cabinet, asource of illumination in the-cabinet, a negative holder in the top ofthe cabinet, a continuously rotating operating shaft, a drive gearconnected to the shaft and having a stud projecting axially therefrom,laterally disposed pins eccentric to the stud, a superstructure on thecabinet, a platen having a stem slidably mounted in the superstructureand provided with rack teeth in one side, a sector pivoted on thesuperstructure and meshing with said rack, anarni'connected to thesector and depending therefrom, a lever pivotally mounted on the cabinetand having one end in the path of said arm, and a removable timing gearfitting on said stud of the drive gear and having eccentric openingsthereinndapted to receive said pin for detachably coupling the timinggear to the driving gear, said timing gear having spaced peripheralprojections adapted to consecutively engage said lever and swing thesame into contact with the depending arm for raising the platen atpredetermined intervals.

FRED J. LYANS.

